Which ceiling type includes a sunken panel, often ornamental, in a vault?

• A. Vaulted Ceiling
• B. Coffered Ceiling
• C. Tray Ceiling
• D. Surface Lighting

Answer: (B)

Coffered ceilings use a grid of sunken panels, or coffers, often embellished and set into vaulted spaces to add depth and ornament. This description—sunken panels within a vault—fits that ceiling type precisely, since the defining feature is the recessed panels that create a decorative, rhythmic pattern in the ceiling.

Think of it as the difference from a vaulted ceiling, which is defined by its arched, vaulted form rather than panels; a tray ceiling, on the other hand, has a raised central area with steps down to the perimeter; surface lighting isn’t a ceiling type at all but refers to lighting installed on the ceiling surface.